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From medical student to intern: Discovering a deeper connection with patients

Physician

June 4, 2023

As a medical student with a limited knowledge base and limited exposure to taking care of a high volume of patients, my idea of being the physician I hoped to be involved in spending time at the bedside and really getting to know my patients as people and hearing their stories. As I was learning my way around how the medical world worked as clerkship student, this was perhaps the …

A physician’s typical day, as envisioned by a non-clinician health care MBA: a satire

Jennifer Lycette, MD

Physician

June 4, 2023

My alarm goes off at 3:30 a.m. for some early charting. I love these pre-work hours, even though it’s my own unpaid time. I went into debt for hundreds of thousands of dollars to have the need for sleep trained out of me. A neat side effect of this is that it also wiped away my will to resist inane admin tasks.

While I’m pre-charting, my family wakes up, or at …

Unveiling the global pandemic threat: insights into risk factors and urgent measures for prevention

Ton La, Jr., MD, JD

Policy

June 4, 2023

As the current COVID-19 pandemic continues to rage across the globe, many are left wondering when the next pandemic will occur. The reality is that pandemics are not a new phenomenon, and throughout history, we have seen numerous instances of infectious diseases causing widespread devastation.

While we cannot predict with certainty when the next pandemic will occur, there are certain circumstances under which they are more likely to occur.

One such circumstance …

Decoding name displays in health care: Privacy, identification, and compliance unveiled

Deepak Gupta, MD

Physician

June 4, 2023

There are three versions of name displays in health care institutions, each tailored to different groups of individuals. For physician staff, full names are typically shown, including both first and middle names, along with their highest educational level. This helps establish their presence and expertise within the health care institution.

On the other hand, non-physician staff usually have only their given names displayed in full, followed by the rest of their …

Empowering Black nurses for lasting change [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

June 3, 2023

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Join us for an enlightening episode as we sit down with Kashica J. Webber-Ritchey, an assistant professor of nursing, to discuss the pressing issue of equity in health care, particularly for Black nurses. Kashica shares her first-hand …

Master time management with 7 productivity strategies for optimal results

Farzana Hoque, MD

Physician

June 3, 2023

Do you know what one thing is common among all of us, regardless of our wealth or age?

Time.

Every human being in this world has 1,440 minutes every day. However, while we all have the same amount of time, some people are more productive than others. Time management is a skill that doesn’t come naturally and requires effort and planning. Below is a list of seven important strategies that will help …

Proposed USPSTF guideline update: Advocating for earlier breast cancer screening at age 40

Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian

Conditions

June 3, 2023

Pop Quiz: At what age do medical experts recommend women of average risk for breast cancer begin receiving screening mammograms?

40
45
50
All of the above.

If you answered “D,” you are correct. Confused? I don’t blame you. Medical societies and independent task forces do not agree on when to begin or end screening mammograms for women at average risk of developing breast cancer. This has led to confusion and …

The rising threat of lung cancer in Asian American female nonsmokers

Alice S. Y. Lee, MD

Conditions

June 3, 2023

“It’s adenocarcinoma,” said the voice on the other end of the phone.

I couldn’t believe it.

“Lung cancer? Me? How could that be? I’ve never smoked!” Shock, disbelief, and disappointment filled all the nooks and crannies of my mind and heart.

In January 2021, I went to my PCP after developing a nagging dry cough after starting lisinopril eight months prior, during the first months of COVID. I concluded that it was just …

The tragic story of Mr. G: a painful journey towards understanding suicide

William Lynes, MD

Physician

June 3, 2023

A most memorable message awaited me on my desk one morning: a brief note from Mrs. G asking, “Why did my husband take his own life today?”

Startled, I reflected on Mr. G’s history as I had been treating him in my urology clinic for the past few months. It had recently come to my attention that his complaints were related to painful recurrent renal colic.

Anticipating a distressing phone call, I …

Healing trauma and reconnecting: Unmasking the impact of dissociation [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

June 2, 2023

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Join us as we dive into a conversation with Christine Gibson, a family physician and trauma specialist. Christine shares her expertise on dissociation, trauma, and the profound impact they have on health care. Discover the importance of …

Why the WHO’s pandemic accord is critical for global health care

Elizabeth Métraux

Policy

June 2, 2023

In a recent article in Health Affairs, U.N. Foundation vice president Peter Yeo and former Director of The Global Fund Mark Dybul, MD, broke down the elements and imperatives of a process underway to develop a better approach to pandemic preparedness. Currently in draft form, the “Pandemic Accord” is being shepherded by the World Health Organization at the behest of its 194 Member States after the global COVID-19 response called …

The revolutionary Kaiser-Geisinger deal: How health care giants are reshaping the industry and empowering patients

Robert Pearl, MD

Policy

June 2, 2023

Health care’s most recent billion-dollar deal took the industry by surprise, leaving medical experts and hospital leaders grappling to comprehend its implications.

In case you missed it, California-based Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals, which make up the insurance and facilities half of Kaiser Permanente, announced the acquisition of Geisinger, a Pennsylvania-based health system once acknowledged by President Obama for delivering “high-quality care.”

Upon regulatory approval, Geisinger will become the first …

The escalating violence in health care workplaces: a critical problem facing the nation’s health care system

Harry Severance, MD

Physician

June 2, 2023

The recent shootings at an Atlanta medical facility that left one dead and four seriously wounded are just the most recent, widely published event documenting the accelerating violence occurring in the nation’s health care workplaces.

Violence within our health care workplaces has been a steadily rising and critical problem over the past decade – now further fueled by issues such as fallout from the COVID pandemic – including a political-issue-motivated …

Is chaos in health care leading us towards socialized medicine? How physician burnout is a catalyst.

Howard Smith, MD

Physician

June 2, 2023

A recurring theme expressed by many contributors and commentators to KevinMD is physician burnout.

It is generally accepted that chaos causes burnout. There is no shortage of chaos in the practice of medicine: emotional, physical, personal, professional, and political stresses, not to mention the threat of lawsuits and the cost of liability insurance. This is just the shortlist. There is also no shortage of adjustments that doctors make in response.

It is …

A pediatrician’s journey into integrative medicine [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

June 1, 2023

Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Catch up on old episodes!

Join us on this episode as we sit down with Kortney West, a pediatrician who shares her personal journey and perspective on the shortcomings of the allopathic medical system. As a physician, mother, and patient, Kortney discusses …

Why allowing yourself to embrace discomfort is necessary for personal growth

Jillian Rigert, MD, DMD

Physician

June 1, 2023

Life coach and author Martha Beck’s 4-Phase Change Cycle begins with Phase 1: “Death and Rebirth.” Martha’s blog contains the Phase I Mantra: “I don’t know what the hell is going on … and that’s OK.”

Many of us try to skip Phase 1. It’s uncomfortable. It’s painful. And, it’s necessary.

I finally accepted the value of Phase 1 after years of trying to jump into Phase 3 of Martha Beck’s Change …

Unconventional health care, flawed studies, and biases: Navigating the complexities for optimal well-being

Kara Wada, MD

Physician

June 1, 2023

When I speak with my less “crunchy” peers, I encounter a considerable amount of resistance to ideas that have initially gained traction in naturopathic or integrative spaces: food as medicine, making “non-toxic” swaps, meditation, or reiki, to name a few.

As humans, we certainly love a good us vs. them mentality, tribalism and all.

But the reality is, many of us have witnessed harm inflicted on patients who sought care in less …

Urgent innovation is needed to address the growing mental health crisis among children and families

Monika Roots, MD

Conditions

June 1, 2023

The growing mental health crisis affecting our children and families has reached a breaking point. As a child and adolescent psychiatrist, I know well the current mental health crisis is dire and demands immediate attention. And I worry we are not moving fast enough to help those in need.

The number of kids and teens aged 3 to 17 diagnosed with depression or anxiety spiked by 30% from 2016 …

The importance of listening in health care: a mother’s journey advocating for children with chronic Lyme disease

Cheryl Lazarus

Conditions

June 1, 2023

My husband, a physician, and I have four wonderful children – a son and three daughters. I look back over the past decade and wonder, “Why?” Why did my daughters contract Lyme disease and not my son or husband? Why was it so difficult to establish a diagnosis? Why are doctors specializing in treating patients with Lyme disease considered pariahs, while conventional doctors may not consider the diagnosis and often …

Medical errors and the power of apologies [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

May 31, 2023

Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Catch up on old episodes!

In this episode, we talk to Amber Gipson-Fine, a project manager, about her personal experience with a medical error and the importance of medical apologies. March was Endometriosis Awareness Month, and Amber shares her journey with the …

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